In my time as a hospice volunteer, I have had the honor of working with a wide range of patients at various stages of their illnesses. When I am asked what kinds of experiences I have encountered, I think back to some of the situations that have stayed with me all these years. One patient, a lovely 80-something-year-old woman with beautiful skin, was unconscious each time I visited her. At these visits I would spend time talking to her daughter, who was taking care of her mother herself. I learned…

"Ribbons" created by Effie Wilson

My father-in-law’s wife has dementia. There is no easier way to say it. As a nurse, I want to do all I can to help, but what makes it difficult for me and my husband is the fact that they live in Arizona, and we can’t “drop in” to help. It seems as though it was only yesterday when we visited and were in the “sewing” room discussing her doll collection and the dolls she herself had created along with her plans to sell them on line. She then…

Status: Post Trauma
It could be as simple as a minor fender-bender with your car or as heart-breaking as the earthquake in Haiti. The images of tragedy are on TV and heard on radio over and over again. Children are exposed to it more today than ever, and they need help understanding all of it. Here are some simple tips to help you relate this information without scaring your children.

• Leave the lines of communication open. Anything they say  is not silly, if it is a concern. Address it as simply as you can, and…

(Photo by Jake Sutton)

Tonight, I spoke to a Type 2 diabetic patient who had many questions regarding her insulin. Her glucose was 179, she wasn’t experiencing any symptoms, but she wasn’t sure if she should take her medication. She forgot her normal glucose range. Luckily, I had access to her plan of care which indicated her normal glucose range (eg. 100–180) as ordered by the doctor, and I reviewed the medication regimen with her.

It is important for you, as a diabetic patient (as well as your caregiver), to know your normal glucose range. This range of numbers,…

(Photo by Salvator Vuono)

How do you feel when you realize a loved one is starting to lose his or her memory? When I was in high school my own grandmother started to lose her memory and it was one of the most painful times in my life. As a result of this experience I feel connected with those who are going through this. A few months ago it was my pleasure to meet Mrs. W. and those in her life.

Mrs. W

During the first few minutes of my visit with Mrs.…

Do you remember the Jetsons cartoon of the 1960s? Wife Jane and Rosie the maid managed to run the household utilizing space age technology like video phones. I remember throughout the 1980s waiting for the long-promised video phone. All our problems would be solved as we caught up with siblings wearing our pajamas and chatting by video phone.

In 2007 I traveled to Poland for work, and a colleague introduced me to Skype so that I could video chat with my husband each day. I called him at 6 a.m. from Oswiecim…

I was speaking to someone the other day about medications, and I asked if they had heard about the Tylenol recall. “Oh, you mean the one a few years ago when they pulled all the pills off the shelf?” I informed him that there had been another recall this week with many products, including Rolaids, Motrin, Benadryl, Simply Sleep and St. Joseph Aspirin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with McNeil Consumer Healthcare issued in a statement that there is a voluntary recall of some lots of these over the counter…

A few nights ago, I spoke to 94-year old Ann on the phone. She called because she wasn’t sure if her nurse would be visiting her the following morning and she felt particularly anxious that evening. As I reviewed Ann’s information, it revealed she had a history of congestive heart failure and she lived alone. After asking her a series of assessment questions, I ruled out any emergency concerns, provided some care advice, and I sent a message to the nurse to contact her in the morning.

During my conversation with…

At this moment New Yorkers are trying to contact their families and friends in Haiti who have been devastated by the recent earthquake. I am saddened by the recent events because I provide care in Southeast Queens for a sizeable number of older adults who call Haiti their home.

The day after the earthquake, I visited the home of an  elderly Haitian woman who lives with her family. As the visit progressed, I began a conversation with her son while latest news from Haiti was playing in the background.

Our conversation
 I asked the woman’s son…

(Photo by Ron Bird)

For the last few weeks, most of the country has had unseasonably cold weather. This can be very dangerous, and it’s important for everyone to take special precautions. 

Simple tips to keep in mind:

• When you go out, it’s important to dress in layers. I personally like fleece sweaters because I find them soft and warm. Remember to have your hands and feet covered, preferably with insulated and waterproof materials. 
• It’s important to wear a hat since most of the body’s heat escapes from the head. Find one that covers the ears, or wear earmuffs.
• Make sure…